Coordinators Wanted for Top Companies

By Frank Pagani

The NYSSCPA Membership Committee, chaired by Barry Doll, wants to better meet the needs of members in industry by creating a network of coordinators from companies with a large number of Society members as employees.

"Our initiative stems from the concern that while members in industry represent one-third of the Society, we lose the largest percent from the membership group each year. Clearly, we have to do a better job of addressing the needs of this group," Doll observed. "Coordinators will help improve communication, strengthen one-on-one relations with employers, and provide a network of Society members at individual companies."

The concept is modeled after the Society's Top 25 Public Accounting Firms program, which includes a designated coordinator at each firm who supports NYSSCPA programs, benefits, and services. The company coordinator's role is similar, serving as the contact to help communicate to employees information about important Society activities and events, especially those that relate specifically to industry needs.

Coordinators need not be members of the Society. In fact, it might be practical to appoint the manager of human resources for a company, as is the case with some of the representatives of the top 25 public accounting firms.

The aim is to make the coordinator's task as efficient as possible. The network will have its own forum on the Society's website (www.nysscpa.org) to facilitate communication efforts. NYSSCPA staff and the Membership Committee will provide additional ongoing assistance, and the committee will host a reception to welcome and orient new coordinators to the program.

"By having contacts at top companies, we hope to raise the awareness of our members in industry and also get their valuable input on programs and services they would like the Society to provide," Doll said.